Pumping apparatus



Aug. 15, 1939 R. c. MAsoN 2169703 PPPPPPPPPPPPPP US ed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

Aug. 15, 1939 R. c. MAsoN PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,169,703 PUMPING APPARATUS Richard C. Mason, Tulsa, Okla.

Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,511

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of that character adaptable for cementing and acidizing Wells, for circulating mud fluid incidental to rotary drilling of deep wells, and for other purposes for which extreme or relatively high pressure pumping is required, the principal objects of the invention being to provide an eflicient, convenient and economical pumping apparatus for such purposes.

In accomplishing the stated objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic pump structure embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical cross section through one of the pump units particularly showing the intake and discharge valves for the Operating fluid pumps.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section on the line 3+3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line -t, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail cross section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, particularly showing the construction of the valve housings, and valves at the ends of the aligned cylinders.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a fluid pumping apparatus which consists generally of a frame 2 for supporting a fluid trough 3, a double series of fluid pressure and motor cylinders t, a fluid driving pump 5 of the reversible fiow type to deliver liquid to the motor cylinders for actuating the pressure cylinders, and a power take-off S for actuating the fluid pump.

The support I preferably comprises spaced longitudinally arranged I-beams 'i having spaced cross members 8 which are suitably secured to the I-beams to form a fi-rm foundation for the pumping apparatus.

The trough 3 consists of a bottom plate 9 which is preferably located between the series or banks of pressure and motor cylinders and raised at one end by legs I ll supported by one of the cross members 8. Side plates ll are suitably secured to the bottom plate and to the legs IO for extension rearwardly to connect with a back plate |2 for forming a trough |3 for receiving cement, mud, acid, or the like, from a source of supply not shown.

Extending into the trough |3 are intakes in the form of pipes Il and IS which are preferably mounted in T flttings IS, connecting with pipes ll and |8 extending in parallel relation with the side frames 'I and which connect at the respective ends thereof with valve housings IS, 20, 2| and 22 through L and nipple connections 23.

The valve housings are provided in the faces thereof receiving the pipe connections 23 with threaded openings 26, as shown in Fig. 5, the sides of which form threaded inwardly and outwardly extending bosses 25 and 26, the bosses 26 receiving the connections 23 and the bosses 25 receiving exteriorly threaded valve assemblies 21, each having bevelled valve seats 28 for seating similarly bevelled poppet valves 29 which are supported in position relative to their seats by valve stems 30 Operating through bores 3| in the base 32 of the valve guides. The end of the stem opposite the poppet valve is provided with a coil spring 33, one end of which seats against the guide and the other end'of which engages a washer held in place by a suitable retaining device 34 in such a manner that fluid entering the valve housing through the pipe connection 23 passes through ports 35 formed in the base of the valve to unseat the poppet valve 29 against tension of the spring 30.

Fluid is drawn from the trough E3 into the respective pairs of valve housings i9-2ll and 'fi- 22, by means of fluid operated pump pistons, the pistons being preferably operated by a motor pump which receives' its Operating fluid from the power fluid pump 5, as now to be described.

Oil is preferably the fluid carried by the fluid pump 5 for Operating and reciprocating the pistons 36 within the motors 31 each of which is mounted between two driven working fluid pumps 38 and 39 which are in turn screw threadedly engaged in threaded openings 40 of faces 'li of the valve housings. Stay bolts 42 are also provided which engage with the valve housings and with spacers M which separate the cylinders to provide spaces for glands and gland heads 45 on the motor flanges for the passage of a piston rod later described and for holding the cylinders against longitudinal movement. Flanges 53 covering the ends of the motor cylinder are also provided with stay-bolts for maintaining the flanges in sealing engagement with the motor.

The fluid pump 5 is actuated from a suitable power take-ofi 6, which may be either from the transmission of a truck carrying the apparatus or otherwise. The fluid pump 5 is generally of a conventional reversible fiow type having automatic reversing means provided to alternately deliver pressure medium, such as oil, through the pipes 48 and 41 for transmission to opposite ends of the motor cylinders 31.

It should here be pointed out that the motor cylinders 31 on both sides of the trough and the connectlng working medium pumps 38 and 89 are identical in arrangement and construction with the' exception of size of the motor cylinders. It should be further pointed out that the series of connecting cylinders are not necussarily simultaneously operated, but may be used separately under different working conditions. For

example. when high speed is required and relatively low pressure permissible, the smaller of the motor pumps 31 is used and the intake li of the larger motor pump which is not being used is preferably plugged. When the demand is for extremely high pressure the volume of working medium is reduced and the larger motor pump is put in operation for slower speed, lower volume and greater power with the consequent disuse of the other series of pumps. It is apparent that banks of pumps and valves may be superimposed upon each other should the occasion require greater volumes of working medium to be forced into the well than is possible with the pump shown.

As oil passes from the power fluid pump to one end 48 of the motor pump 31, the piston 35 is forced to the end 45 of the pump 31. The piston 35 is connected on a single connecting rod with pistons 5| and 52 Operating in the working medium or pressure pumps 35 and IQ. The pistons are so arranged in the cylinders that they all are in the same relative position at each position of the stroke of the motor piston. It is thus apparent that if oil is forced into the motor pump through the pipe 41 the piston I. is forced to the left as shown in Fig. 2, drawing with it the piston 52 to create a vacuum in the cylinder of pump 39 to draw fluid from the trough I! to flll the cylinder of pump 39.

The power fluid pump 5 is provided with a reversing mechanism, not shown, which is actuated when the piston 35 reaches a predetermined position, in such a manner as to cause flow of oil through the line 45 behind the piston 35 on the side 48 thereof to force the piston in the opposite direction and cause forced flow of oil reversely through the line 41. As the piston 35 is moved to the right, Fig. 2, under pressure of the oil, the pistons 5| and 52 are also moved to the right to empty the cylinder of pump 39 of cement or other fluid contained therein.

In order to empty the cylinders, a discharge line 53 is provided having L and nipple connections 54 with the valve housings 19-22, inclusive. Valves 55 similar to the valves 21, previously described, are mounted in threaded bosses 55 in the valve housings, the valves opening outwardly relative to the valve housings into the discharge line, it being apparent that the pressure generated by the oil piston, and the working medium as it is forced out of the valves 55 malntalns the valves 21 in closed position while the valves 55 are in open condition.

suitable pipe connections may be added to the discharge line 53 to conduct the working medium to the bottom of the well casing. Prefel'bly by a flexible hose, not shown.

When it is desired to acid treat a well to increase the flow of fluid from the oil sands by an acid which does not contain the usual inhibitors, the Pump cylinders may be replaced with cylinders having suitable liners of rubber or other non-corrosive substances.

The operation of an apparatus constructed as described is as follows:

Cement, or other fluid, of any consistency desired may be placed in the trough 13 by any suitable means not shown. If the conditions in the well require a great pressure for forcing cement up between the wall of the well and casing, the larger of the motor pumps is put into operation by energizing the power fluid pump 5 through the power take-off O. If conditions in the well permit of less power, greater volume may be had through the use of the smaller motor pump with its increased speed of piston reciprocation. In either event, valves 51, 58, 59 and 50, Pig. 1, are provided on the pipes 45 and 41 in order to permit separate use of each series or unit of pumps, it being apparent, however, that the double series of pumps may be used to combine power and speed. For example, if the pumplng unit arranged at the left of the fluid pump 5, as shown in Fig. 1, is to be employed, the valves 51 and 59 are opened and the valves 58 and 50 are closed. If the pumping unit arranged to the right of the fluid pump 5 is to be employed, the valves 58 and are opened and the valves 51 and 58 are closed. If, however, the units are to operate in unison in response to actuation of the single fluid pump 5, the valves 51, 58, 59 and 50 are opened, thus providing for circulation of pressure medium between the motors of each unit and the fluid pump 5 through the branches of the pipes or lines 46 and 41 which respectively lead to opposite ends of the motor in each pumping unit or series 4. Actuation of the power fluid pump causes oil or other pressure medium contained therein 'to flow through the pipe 45 to the end 48 of the motor pump to force the piston 35 to the opposite end of the cylinder carrying with it pistons 5| and 52. As the piston 5| moves to the opposite end of its cylinder, a vacuum is created in the cylinder which draws working medium from the trough Il into the intake pipe |1 or 15 depending upon which series of pumps is being used and through the valve assemblies 21 into the cylinder u.

As above pointed out, when the piston 35 reaches a predetermined point in the motor pump, the power fluid pump is automatically rversed to force pressure medium into the side 49 of the motor pump and withdraw the pressure medium from in front of the piston on the side 48 thereof to circulate back through the power fluid pump. As the piston moves to the opposite end of the cylinder under pressure of power fluid from the fluid pump, the working medium contained in the pump 38 is forced out of its valve 55 into the discharge line 53, after which it is suitably conduoted to the well casing for transmission to the bottom thereof under hydraulic pressure for sealing over the top of the oil sand and for contact with the side walls of the bore hole to support the casing inposition.

When the apparatus is used in rotary drilling, mud may be circulated from the discharge line 53 to the bottom of the well hole back to the trough |3 for reuse.

It is apparent that since the circulation of pressure medium from the power fluid pump to the motor pumps is uniform, and since the cross sectional areas of the motor pump pistons vary, the piston of the larger motor pump moves more slowly than the piston of the smaller motor pump, generating, however, more power.

It is further apparent that the working fluid pumps are alternately actuated and thus generate a continuous flow of working medium from the source of supply to the bottom of the well casing.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A pumping apparatus including in combination with a fluid driving pump of reversible flow type and means for actuating same; spaced high and low pressure pumping units each consisting of a motor having a piston, lines operatively connecting the motors of each unit with said driving pump at opposite ends of 'the motors to recipro- 'cate the plstons in response to actuation of the drlving pump, a driven pump at each end of the motors having a piston connected with the corresponding motor piston and arranged to reciprocate in the driven pumps in response to reciprocatlon of the motor pistons by the driving pump, a source of supply of material to be pumped, material supply andexhaust lines in each driven pump communicating with the source of supply and a point of delivery respectively. valves controlling flow through said supply and exhaust 'lines to and from said driven pumps, and valves in said motor lines allowing actuation of said units separately and simultaneously.

RICHARD C. MASON. 

